Metra puts more records online

Rail agency enhances its website

April 12, 2012|By Richard Wronski, Chicago Tribune reporter

Metra CEO Alex Clifford (E. Jason Wambsgans, Chicago Tribune)

In a move toward more openness and accountability, Metra is providing enhancements to its website that it said will allow the public to track more closely how the commuter rail agency conducts its business.

As of Wednesday, the Metra board meeting agendas that are posted on the agency's website will contain links to all information and documents being discussed and considered, Metra CEO Alex Clifford said. The website is metrarail.com.

Ridership and on-time performance reports, procurements, contracts, meeting minutes and other records will be readily available so the public will have an opportunity to see them both before and after the board meetings, Clifford said.

Metra also is taking steps to make information more readily accessible under Freedom of Information requests. The agency is adding a hotline, 312-663-FOIA (3642), to provide instructions and answer questions about filing requests for documents, he said.

Clifford, who took over in charge of the agency in February 2011, acknowledged that the agency has had a history of being less than transparent.

The new policy will provide "a more open and public Metra than ever before," Clifford said.